Date: April 16, 2011 9:50:04 AM CDT

To: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

Subject: I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more (open on 4/23/11)

Dear Scott Walker,

I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I realize that I have gotten away from dissecting and asking you questions about senate bill 22; there have just been so many things going on! It seems like every time I turn around, there is something else being revealed about your testimony at hearings, phone calls you accept, rotunda rules you expect to be enforced, unqualified people 5 or more levels below you being hired in positions you may not even know anything about, but somehow, seemingly miraculously the deficient employees have a connection with you. That reminds my of the fun game called The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I am not sure if you have ever played it, so I will give you a brief overview. The premise is that any actor can be linked to Kevin Bacon within six movies. Knowledge of pop culture is definitely a plus when playing this game. Here is the Wikipedia page for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon

This got me to thinking about my awkward attempt at a more personal rather than professional relationship with you several nights ago. The uncomfortable small-talk paired with your lack of responses made me think that perhaps it is best our relationship remains at the "'cardboard cutout/google image printouts' of you and the 'front page of the local section in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel pictorial representation' of me" stage (very two dimensional...Get it? Flat pictures). I don't think we are going to get anything solved unless we forge a deeper relationship and create an environment of empathy, so we can relate on an intellectual level. We do not need to sympathize to remedy this situation. This got me to thinking about how we can foster a rapport to build mutual trust and understanding. My answer of course was Wikipedia :) Here is the Wikipedia page that I found out more information about you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Walker_(politician)

Now, I realize that Wikipedia is not the end all and be all of research, but it is user friendly and much more closely monitored than in the past. I found that we have several commonalities:

1.) You were born in Colorado, and I have been to Colorado a couple of times. I was driving through, so did not do much sightseeing.

2.) You lived in Iowa, and I have been to Iowa a couple of times. Again, we were driving through.

3.) You moved to Delavan when you were 10, and I moved to Lake Mills when I was in the third grade. Okay, these connections are a stretch, but stay with me. I know we are going to make some meaningful connections.

4.) You moved up the ranks to become an Eagle Scout, and I began as a Brownie and ended as a Girl Scout.

5.) You went to Badger Boys State, and I went to Badger Girls State. I was from the make-believe town of Pine Grove. We had a town song that a team of girls made to create a sense of community. We also had a nonverbal gesture (arms stretched over our heads with fingertips touching to simulate the look of a pine tree), which allowed us to locate each other when we were in a crowd and needed to meet as a community. We had ample representation in the government, also, including a sheriff, District Attorney, and Justice of the Supreme Court. I was one of the “people in the street” informing voters about the attributes our candidates had to offer. I also came up with catchy slogans, such as "Pine Grove will flush the competition" written on signs posted in the bathroom. :) That reminds me of when Prosser was wondering about who the turd was during the debate with Kloppenburg at Marquette on 3/22/11. He was wondering if he was the turd or if the governor was the turd. If you have not had a chance to see the declaration, here is the debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Ed9VdhydA    Prosser refers to "the turd" at 16 minutes and 45 seconds.

I am going to end this letter there because I feel like we are approaching a Kevin Bacon-esque moment.  I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.

Carrie K

It's never too late to begin your happily ever after :)